Staff & Board
Staff
ELAYNE WYLIE
Executive Director
she/her
Kai Aprill-Tomlin
Communications & Membership Development Manager
he/him
Mahkyra Gaines
Programs Coordinator
no pronouns
LAZA HART
Programs Associate
they/she
SHARLOTTE
Development Associate
she/they
Elayne Wylie
Elayne Wylie (She/Her) is Gender Justice League’s first Board Chair, currently serving as the Executive Director at GJL. She is a long time Seattle trans civil & human rights activist and trans community fixture. She is also a professionally trained and seasoned film producer. Previously, she served on the board’s of both Ingersoll Gender Center and Seattle Out and Proud and is a 2011 graduate of Out in Front LGBT Leadership program.
Kai Aprill-Tomlin
Kai (he/him) is a social worker, abolitionist, and artist based in Seattle. Kai brings years of experience working directly in community on issues related to housing & houselessness, and queer & trans justice, in addition to systems-level changemaking. He is especially passionate about anti-racist action, transformative justice, community-centered design, and housing first and harm reduction principles. In his free time, Kai enjoys complicating manhood, supporting the local drag and ball scenes, and blaming his problems on the current astrological forecast.
Mahkyra Gaines
An Evergreen Grad with a B.A. in Cultural Studies & Political Economy, Mahkyra has a strong passion for black liberation, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Mahkyra has worked with oppressed youth in education, historical research with the indigenous people of the Squaxin Island Tribe, and currently does legislative and community advocacy for Gender Justice League.
Laza Hart
Laza (they/she) is a full-time student and part time GJL employee. In their academic life they are a Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies; Medical Anthropology; and Indigenous Archaeology major researching the barriers to mental healthcare for queer individuals.
Sophia Lee
Sophia Lee (she/her) is a Software Developer at Microsoft by day and a Gender Justice Warrior by night. She has been deeply involved in multiple diversity and inclusion activities at Microsoft and has been also involved in reviving the Transgender Discussion Group at Microsoft. At Gender Justice League she helps leads and directs the Board of Directors as the Board Chair.
Sept Gernez
Sept Gernez (they/them) joined our board in 2020, and is excited to join our staff and volunteers in advocating for gender justice in Washington. Sept works at the Sierra Club, where they organize and advocate for climate justice and lead equity, justice and inclusion initiatives. You can find them at the beach, at a protest, or out dancing the night away!
Sharlotte
Sharlotte (she/they) is a trans person that comes from a Filipino immigrant family. She loves independently made art, collects plushies, and strives to support people in being who they truly are. Sharlotte is a WWU honors graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Services and minor in Sociology. They have past experience in LGBTQ+ resource navigation and event coordination.
Board
SARAH MORAN
Board President
she/her
SEPT GERNEZ
Board Member
they/them
SARAH ABSHIRE
Board Member
she/her